Elijah Christopher Graham
Elijah Christopher Graham
Born 1/8/2020
2:47 pm
7 lb 2 oz.
20 inches
On Tuesday night, January 7th, I began having some pretty convincing contractions. Nothing was consistent so I stubbornly stayed home. I'd been in prodromal (false) labor since New Years Eve, so it was nothing new.
At 9pm I had a sharp pain on my left side of my back. It felt like a pulled muscle. I continued to ignore it until I couldn't bare it anymore. So we went to the hospital. Me, Thomas, and my mom.
Earlier that day we walked around Sam's and Walmart to help induce labor. I'd also woken up at 3am and couldn't go back to sleep. I deep cleaned the house that morning as well. It was a very busy and active day.
I'd packed and unpacked and repacked my hospital bag a dozen times with my umpteen false alarms. As I was packing it again I just laughed to myself that I would just be unpacking again soon.
Just before we left, I panicked. I did not want to go in with a false alarm just to get sent home with a huge ER bill and no baby. I paused at the door and asked everyone if we should stay. They said it was up to me! My back pain was getting worse so I powered through my doubts and we left.
On the way Thomas put on "Push It" by Salt n Pepa. He was so cute and excited and dancing.
We got to the hospital and they hooked me up to the monitors and checked me. They said if nothing progressed soon then they'd send me home. I was not excited.
My kidney pain was getting worse so I asked them if there was anything they could give me like Tylenol. They then offered Fentanyl. I had no idea what that was, but she said it would hit me fast. And oh my lanta, it did!
Not only was my kidney pain dulled, but I was as high as a kite! My mom recorded some of the crazy things I was saying. I was stumbling over words. My eyes couldn't focus and kept jumping. I actually really hated the feeling of no control. But the pain relief was nice.
I could only get the pain meds every hour. I felt really weird asking for it so often, but my kidney pain was getting worse. The medicine only dulled the pain for about half an hour. And it was less and less effective each time I had it.
My labs showed a possible kidney stone or kidney issue. But the kidney pain along with the contractions every 2 minutes was pretty rough.
They also found that my blood pressure was slightly elevated and they found a few traces of protein. So potentially Pre-eclampsia. They said they'd induce me because of those labs at 37 weeks, so I was glad we were already there. Nothing more came of it, thankfully. But I've also never been THAT pregnant before so it makes me wonder if that's a factor.
They checked me again and I was progressing but very slowly. I tried everything. Walking, bouncing on the exercise ball, etc. But my kidney pains were unbearable. I don't usually do the epidural, but it was very tempting because of the kidney pains. My contractions were nothing compared to the kidney pain.
With Abbie I went without an epidural in addition to Pitocin (imagine a jackhammer taken to your bones ðĪŠ) and the pain was unreal but still doable. I'd do that a hundred times before I'd do kidneys again!
My first two labors were just a couple hours each, so when I was already at the 5 or 6 hour mark plus my kidneys, I was miserable.
I pushed through until the next morning. I was still progressing at a snail's pace. They broke my water around 7am and hoped it would speed things up a bit.
After a couple hours I was dilating but not very quickly. At one point I begged them to give me induction meds just so SOMETHING would happen. But they suggested I wait for my body to respond. There are lots of risks with Pitocin, but I was desperate.
Everything about this pregnancy and labor was so different. Lincoln's birth was straight out of a movie (water breaking, racing to the hospital, baby came flying out) and Abbie's was very relaxed and went very smoothly. Elijah's was long, drawn out, frustrating, and very painful.
I asked to be checked and I still hadn't dilated in a few hours. That broke me. I was sobbing and so disappointed. So I decided the epidural would be best. And it was the best decision EVER.
The kidney pain and slow dilation and lots of contractions became unbearable. Two days of pure pain and exhaustion were just too much. And I'm so glad I got the epidural. I was finally able to rest and ignore the monitors.
My mom and sister in law told me when they'd see a contraction and I'd say "That's nice." I was so over it. For hours and hours I'd sit there hoping and praying to see the monitors jump and nothing. Or it was something really small or very inconsistent.
Finally, FINALLY I was at a 10. I actually yelled "HALLE-FREAKING-LUJAH" when they started setting everything up.
I actually had a male nurse, Carl, for most of the delivery. He was so great but it definitely caught me off guard at first. But everything was amazing. There were a few things that I didn't love, but I'm no birth-zilla. I just wanted this baby out of me! Carl was an interesting guy but very efficient.
They wheeled a mirror around so I could see. It was only for the practice pushes before the doctor came, but I was able to see a head of hair!
The doctor came in and they had me wait for a contraction. I pushed a few times for two contractions and he was out!
In fact, I pushed his head out and halfway stopped. They had to remind me that I needed to finish pushing him out. I was so tired and delirious at that point. I'd been up for two days with zero sleep and lots of pain.
They put Elijah on my stomach immediately while Thomas cut the cord and they delivered my placenta. After that they put him on my chest where he stayed for the next hour. He latched on immediately and breastfed like a champion. He was a pro and still is!
I never thought in a million years I would have such a different birthing experience. Thomas predicted a 20 hour labor though! He didn't tell me until after because he didn't want me to be mad at him. ðĪĢ But it was about 17 hours from go time to baby. Lincoln and Abbie's combined was about 4 or 5 hours ðŽ
My birthing team was amazing. And by birthing team, I mean Thomas, my mom, and my sister in law, Amber. They were my people during Abbie's and Elijah's births. Lincoln came too fast for any sort of birthing team! ð
Thomas and my mom stayed up for 2 days with me. It was quite the adventure. By the time we got settled into our hospital room we were all crossed eyed and delirious. But for the best reason.
But I'd do it all over again for our Baby Bubba. He's the most calm, precious, content little dude. The kids adore him and it's so fun to see them get excited at the smallest things like when he opens his eyes or coos.
It seems like yesterday and forever ago that I found out I was surprise pregnant. But it was the greatest surprise. ð
Born 1/8/2020
2:47 pm
7 lb 2 oz.
20 inches
On Tuesday night, January 7th, I began having some pretty convincing contractions. Nothing was consistent so I stubbornly stayed home. I'd been in prodromal (false) labor since New Years Eve, so it was nothing new.
At 9pm I had a sharp pain on my left side of my back. It felt like a pulled muscle. I continued to ignore it until I couldn't bare it anymore. So we went to the hospital. Me, Thomas, and my mom.
Earlier that day we walked around Sam's and Walmart to help induce labor. I'd also woken up at 3am and couldn't go back to sleep. I deep cleaned the house that morning as well. It was a very busy and active day.
I'd packed and unpacked and repacked my hospital bag a dozen times with my umpteen false alarms. As I was packing it again I just laughed to myself that I would just be unpacking again soon.
Just before we left, I panicked. I did not want to go in with a false alarm just to get sent home with a huge ER bill and no baby. I paused at the door and asked everyone if we should stay. They said it was up to me! My back pain was getting worse so I powered through my doubts and we left.
On the way Thomas put on "Push It" by Salt n Pepa. He was so cute and excited and dancing.
We got to the hospital and they hooked me up to the monitors and checked me. They said if nothing progressed soon then they'd send me home. I was not excited.
My kidney pain was getting worse so I asked them if there was anything they could give me like Tylenol. They then offered Fentanyl. I had no idea what that was, but she said it would hit me fast. And oh my lanta, it did!
Not only was my kidney pain dulled, but I was as high as a kite! My mom recorded some of the crazy things I was saying. I was stumbling over words. My eyes couldn't focus and kept jumping. I actually really hated the feeling of no control. But the pain relief was nice.
I could only get the pain meds every hour. I felt really weird asking for it so often, but my kidney pain was getting worse. The medicine only dulled the pain for about half an hour. And it was less and less effective each time I had it.
My labs showed a possible kidney stone or kidney issue. But the kidney pain along with the contractions every 2 minutes was pretty rough.
They also found that my blood pressure was slightly elevated and they found a few traces of protein. So potentially Pre-eclampsia. They said they'd induce me because of those labs at 37 weeks, so I was glad we were already there. Nothing more came of it, thankfully. But I've also never been THAT pregnant before so it makes me wonder if that's a factor.
They checked me again and I was progressing but very slowly. I tried everything. Walking, bouncing on the exercise ball, etc. But my kidney pains were unbearable. I don't usually do the epidural, but it was very tempting because of the kidney pains. My contractions were nothing compared to the kidney pain.
With Abbie I went without an epidural in addition to Pitocin (imagine a jackhammer taken to your bones ðĪŠ) and the pain was unreal but still doable. I'd do that a hundred times before I'd do kidneys again!
My first two labors were just a couple hours each, so when I was already at the 5 or 6 hour mark plus my kidneys, I was miserable.
I pushed through until the next morning. I was still progressing at a snail's pace. They broke my water around 7am and hoped it would speed things up a bit.
After a couple hours I was dilating but not very quickly. At one point I begged them to give me induction meds just so SOMETHING would happen. But they suggested I wait for my body to respond. There are lots of risks with Pitocin, but I was desperate.
Everything about this pregnancy and labor was so different. Lincoln's birth was straight out of a movie (water breaking, racing to the hospital, baby came flying out) and Abbie's was very relaxed and went very smoothly. Elijah's was long, drawn out, frustrating, and very painful.
I asked to be checked and I still hadn't dilated in a few hours. That broke me. I was sobbing and so disappointed. So I decided the epidural would be best. And it was the best decision EVER.
The kidney pain and slow dilation and lots of contractions became unbearable. Two days of pure pain and exhaustion were just too much. And I'm so glad I got the epidural. I was finally able to rest and ignore the monitors.
My mom and sister in law told me when they'd see a contraction and I'd say "That's nice." I was so over it. For hours and hours I'd sit there hoping and praying to see the monitors jump and nothing. Or it was something really small or very inconsistent.
Finally, FINALLY I was at a 10. I actually yelled "HALLE-FREAKING-LUJAH" when they started setting everything up.
I actually had a male nurse, Carl, for most of the delivery. He was so great but it definitely caught me off guard at first. But everything was amazing. There were a few things that I didn't love, but I'm no birth-zilla. I just wanted this baby out of me! Carl was an interesting guy but very efficient.
They wheeled a mirror around so I could see. It was only for the practice pushes before the doctor came, but I was able to see a head of hair!
The doctor came in and they had me wait for a contraction. I pushed a few times for two contractions and he was out!
In fact, I pushed his head out and halfway stopped. They had to remind me that I needed to finish pushing him out. I was so tired and delirious at that point. I'd been up for two days with zero sleep and lots of pain.
They put Elijah on my stomach immediately while Thomas cut the cord and they delivered my placenta. After that they put him on my chest where he stayed for the next hour. He latched on immediately and breastfed like a champion. He was a pro and still is!
I never thought in a million years I would have such a different birthing experience. Thomas predicted a 20 hour labor though! He didn't tell me until after because he didn't want me to be mad at him. ðĪĢ But it was about 17 hours from go time to baby. Lincoln and Abbie's combined was about 4 or 5 hours ðŽ
My birthing team was amazing. And by birthing team, I mean Thomas, my mom, and my sister in law, Amber. They were my people during Abbie's and Elijah's births. Lincoln came too fast for any sort of birthing team! ð
Thomas and my mom stayed up for 2 days with me. It was quite the adventure. By the time we got settled into our hospital room we were all crossed eyed and delirious. But for the best reason.
But I'd do it all over again for our Baby Bubba. He's the most calm, precious, content little dude. The kids adore him and it's so fun to see them get excited at the smallest things like when he opens his eyes or coos.
It seems like yesterday and forever ago that I found out I was surprise pregnant. But it was the greatest surprise. ð
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